Unemployment numbers in Michigan may be trending downward in recent months, but for many, wages remain stagnant, social service programs that offer financial and food assistance are being cut, and families are having to work longer hours just to keep food on their tables. Last year was the first full year of our Food Truck Program in Kent County. Through our Local Labor Liaison at United Way we were able to secure a Mobile Pantry Account from Feeding America West Michigan.

For $500 we purchased a 5,000-pound Mobile Pantry each month except January and February of 2014. In 2014, the Kent-Ionia Central Labor Council and its Community Action Team was able to distribute an incredible 64,927 pounds of food through its Food Truck Program, with Union members and retirees volunteering their time to distribute it on the third Thursday of each month, at a different church or Food Pantry location around Kent County.

“This is just further evidence that the need for food assistance has not decreased in our community,” said Feeding America West Michigan CEO Ken Estelle. “Too many of our neighbors are still battling underemployment, joblessness, rising food and healthcare costs. In many cases, this isn’t a one-time emergency. It’s a chronic need.”

We could use your help! For $500, you can join Teamster Local 406, UAW-1D, UA 174, KICLC, UFCW 951, IBEW 275, GREA and the RWDSU in sponsoring one or more trucks in 2015. That’s right, just $500 purchases thousands of pounds of food each month to help the communities in which we work and live. Whether you sponsor a whole truck or cannot do as much, it all helps! Whatever the amount, please make the check out to Feeding America West Michigan and write “Account #00191” in the memo line and send here: